Just like the Title says.

it finally rained in California a while back and moisture got into my passenger headlight. 3 days later, I took the lens apart with the old oven method and to my dismay, the water marks were permanently imbedded into the chrome reflector material surface. A few wipes and the the chrome became “smudged off” and it made me want to throw the whole car away.

After 5 minutes of cursing and smacking stuff around in my garage, I kind of calmed down and put everything back together again and reinstalled the unit to the XK.

This is ugly folks…looks cheap and I simply hate it.
I’m not going to spend $1500 + on a new unit so I’m thinking of a few things to get by.

Does anyone have any instruction on to refinish the reflector?

Next option would be dark tint so that I don’t have to see it at all until I do replace the unit. Anyone have pics of tint on their headlights?

This issue has literally kept me from driving the XK as of late. Any suggestions are welcome…

 

I’d be tempted to take it apart again and paint it, got nothing to lose. Using some type of reflective paint, maybe like this:

 

I’m tempted to do it too - hace to watch a few videos before I muster up the cojones to just do it. I did reseal the lens and unit with extra sealant so hopefully it’s not sealed for life now…..

 

I see two different finishes within the hl housing.
One is chrome like, one is a silver over a rippled plastic 'reflector'.
The rustoleum chrome paint might work for the oem silver surface but not the chrome like. There is an almost chrome paint available, @ $50 for very small bottle (enough for this project).
I'll need to search my archives to find it and will post the info later on.
wj

 

Yes so sorry to see that! I guess you were not aware of how "tender" that chrome plating is inside the head light. On the S-Type it was common to bake the head light so you could separate the lens but man oh man is that chrome easy to mess up. I don't even try to touch it is so weak.

Good luck with any and all chrome paint. Maybe it will work but I have not had good results and you might just need to get another light.
But if you do find a good one post some pictures because there are newer products coming out all the time.

How is the other side because it will really stand out if the head lights are different. Might need to redo both to make them match.
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here you go:

wj

 

could you have them re-chromed?
I've found a few companies in the UK that specialises in chroming plastic.
https://www.vmclimited.co.uk/metalising/

 

I have tint on my headlights, I'd not want to go back to plain. It's only 10% tint made specifically for headlights. It's thicker and bends easier and sticks better than window tint. I've had it on for probably eight years, zero problems whatsoever.

 

The drivers side looks brand new so whatever I choose to I may have to do the same for both sides. What if take them apart and paint the chrome and silver and switch to a darker shade like black or dark grey? I’m stumped here.

Tinted looks good

 

There is a LOT of heat inside there, so it'd have to be something really good at tolerating heat. Plus be shiny. Big ask.

 

I run LEDs currently but yes - def hear tolerant. May just tint both headlights dark as a quick solution until I muster up the cash for a new unit

 

yes i restored mine clean them good and get chrome paint and pray them with very thin coats let dry for two days and coat them with K 9 ceramic and they will look brand new dont panic i rub off the chrome on mine and thought it was over but its not i can send you pic of mine if you want to see how they look while you have them apart install eagle eyes they look great let me know how to send pics to you ps i restored cars for a living Ran

 

yes, pictures please!!

 

text is the only way i know how to send pic im an old fart not to computer savvy Ran

 

text me at 217 412 7437 and i send back pics Ran

 

Why bother trying to redo the reflective coating? It is the bulb and housing that is responsible for the illumination of the road. Those reflective ridges are to accomodate illumination of road signs.
With the heat that generated, I would be reluctant to use anything that is not heat resistant. Moreover, I'd probably go to a "flat" coating.

Begs the question though... "HOW" did the water penetrate the lens? I've had no such issue.
And I think you'll find a new lens is more than $1500.

 

this what my restored head light look after restoration and eagle eyes installed you can do this not hard just time consuming Ran restoration guy retired

 

Your restoration looks great but I don’t think I’m a fan of halos on my XK. I’m pretty sure the weatherproofing material failed at some point and rain water got into the unit. If I were to restore, I’d go with flat charcoal grey instead of chrome to mimic the DB9. I just got my VVivid headlight tint vinyl order so I’ll be working on that tomorrow. Going to cover the ugly for now - I’ll post results.

 

im older and i now do custom lighting its all what you want in your car and on it know one else's that's always been my slogan im send you some more pics soon of the total restoration i just learned how to upload from my grandson !!!

 

So here it is folks, final results after tinting the headlights. The winds were terrible by my house that I wasn’t able to work on it myself and I couldn’t wait any longer so I found a guy in my area that did the work for cheap! Let me know what you guys think.